Department : Adult Services

Main purpose and aims of the policy, plan or project

A trial of Village Agents has been running since February 2011 and is due to
finish in July 2012. We are now seeking permission and funding to roll-out
Village Agents across Hampshire for a further 3 years.

The Village Agent programme was established to increase and improve the way
that older people living in rural parts of Hampshire, find and benefit from
information. Through its network of Village Agents the programme attempts to
provide better support for older people and to sign-post them to important
information and is therefore a structured and measurable response to the
government’s localism agenda.

Main elements of the policy, plan or project

The programme is a partnership between Hampshire County Council, Age Concern
Hampshire and several borough and district councils. It also engages with other
key organisations across the county such as Hampshire Fire and Rescue, Hampshire
Police, local Neighbourhood Watch groups and Hampshire Association of Parish
Councils.

Detailed Assessment

Age:

Impact : Medium

Any specific issues identified:

The need to roll out the offering of Village Agents to
other excluded communities within Hampshire, e.g Traveller and Nepalese
communities.

What action will be taken to address any identified
issues:

It is recommended that further work will be facilitated by
the Community Development Team to roll out the Village Agents' model to
other excluded communities within Hampshire, including the Traveller and
Nepalese communities.

Disability:

Impact : Low

Any specific issues identified:

What action will be taken to address any identified
issues:

Faith:

Impact : Low

Any specific issues identified:

What action will be taken to address any identified
issues:

Gender:

Impact : Low

Any specific issues identified:

What action will be taken to address any identified
issues:

Transgender:

Impact : Low

Any specific issues identified:

What action will be taken to address any identified
issues:

Race:

Impact : Low

Any specific issues identified:

What action will be taken to address any identified
issues:

Sexual Orientation:

Impact : Low

Any specific issues identified:

What action will be taken to address any identified
issues:

Marriage / civil partnership:

Impact : Low

Any specific issues identified:

What action will be taken to address any identified
issues:

Pregnancy & maternity:

Impact : Low

Any specific issues identified:

What action will be taken to address any identified
issues:

Other factors:

Impact : Low

Any specific issues identified:

What action will be taken to address any identified
issues:

Details of why some groups are low and/or no impact

The project targets all elderly people who may be vulnerable and
isolated.

Conclusion

Village Agents will help alleviate issues of social isolation and exclusion
amongst older people, particularly those living in rural communities.

The programme will help address issues around rural deprivation, ensuring
older people are aware of how to access services that are available to them.

The Village Agents initiative will be inclusive of older BME communities and
other excluded rural communities. Support to facilitate this may be required
from the Community Development Officers.

It is recommended that further work will be facilitated by the Community
Development Team to roll out the Village Agents' model to other excluded
communities within Hampshire, including the Traveller and Nepalese communities,